Mobility Activity 1: Planning and following journeys

Scores planning and following routes. Descriptor f (cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid) and descriptor d (cannot follow an unfamiliar journey without another person) reach 12 and 10 points respectively. Overwhelming psychological distress on a journey is also covered.

All figures on this page are taken from Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (DWP, published April 2026) and the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Act 2025. Author: Oliver Wakefield-Smith. Last full review: 22 June 2026. Next scheduled review: April 2027 (post-uprating). See the full sources register.

Descriptors and points

A. Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided.
0 pts
B. Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant.
4 pts
C. Cannot plan the route of a journey.
8 pts
D. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid.
10 pts
E. Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant.
10 pts
F. Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid.
12 pts

Worked example: Agoraphobia

You cannot leave the house without a support worker because any journey triggers a panic attack. Descriptor e applies, scoring 10 points (enhanced Mobility).

Descriptor scored: E, 10 points.

Reliability test

Whatever descriptor you pick must apply to you safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time. If you can only manage the activity on a good day, the next-higher descriptor usually applies. This is the single most common reason claimants are under-scored on assessment.

Source

Descriptors and points are taken from Schedule 1 of the Social Security (PIP) Regulations 2013. Interpretation guidance is in the PIP assessment guide (DWP, Feb 2026).

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